SAD condemns clash at Akal Takht

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned the clash of two groups inside the Golden Temple premises saying such sacrilegious conduct amounts to "disrespecting and nullifying" the sacrifices of the martyrs.
SAD general secretary Maheshinder Singh Grewal, referring to the clash outside the Akal Takht, said the manner in which supporters of the SAD (Amritsar) tried to use a religious function to revive themselves politically was "condemnable".
A clash broke out between SAD (Amritsar) activists and guards of Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee (SGPC) task force during an event on the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple premises in Amritsar today, leaving at least 12 persons injured.

Grewal, in a statement here, termed the violence as "sacrilegious conduct" and an anti-Sikh act which had lowered the prestige of the Sikh community.
He appealed to Sikhs worldwide to maintain calm and assured them that the SAD would not allow anyone to play politics on the issue and said Operation Bluestar was a "black spot" in the history of Sikhism.
The entire community was deeply wounded and the Operation has left a deep scar on the Sikh psyche, he said, its anniversary is commemorated every year and due care is taken to present a united Sikh face to the community as well as the world at large.

However, this year a political group which has been rejected by the people of Punjab deliberately instigated violence at the highest temporal seat of the community to gain cheap publicity as well as attempt to revive itself politically."
The SAD leader said he was confident that Sikh community would not be misled by such fanatic fringe elements who wanted to spread discord amongst community members as well as endanger the hard won peace of Punjab.